Category Archives: University of Georgia

Apr 22 2013
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Rant, University of Georgia

Jeah Dawgs

Let me go on record as saying that E! television network’s newest reality show, “What Would Ryan Lochte Do?,” is the greatest thing to happen to University of Georgia fans, alumni and supporters since a star was named after our school. (It’s been a big week for us “Dawgs.”)

ryan-lochte-reality-show

Seriously, this train wreck is a must-see for any red & black wearer. After watching the show you may even feel compelled to unroll that degree of yours and kiss it (only open-mouthed if it’s already been framed). That last part goes for not just Georgia grads, but for anyone outside of Gainesville, FL and UF, Lochte’s alma mater.

No lie, in my life I have actually had a University of Florida grad refer to UF as “the Harvard of the South” without a hint of facetiousness. I, myself, prefer the nicknames “University of America’s Wang” or “University of Where Tebow Once Cried,” but, admittedly, I am an unapologetic Gator Hater, and I digress…

My point is, the arrogance that is bred in that town is epidemic and the narcissistic dolt, Lochte, is but one example. Sorry I’m not sorry, Gator fans, but your university deemed this douchebag dummy worthy of the same “prestigious” degree you’re holding. Food for thought…

It’s not to say that the Lochtinator* is a terrible person or mean or what have you. He is just truly, authentically, helplessly unintelligent and, at least so far, is not in on the joke.

(*I’m not sure if I just made up that word or if it already exists in his lexicon of douchery with coined terms like “Lochterage,” “Lochtenation,” and of course “Jeah,” a catchphrase he ripped off from famed rapper, Young Jeezy.)

In interviews he sites Kim Kardashian as someone he admires since she brought herself from virtual obscurity to reality television super-stardom. However, one must realize that the person/brand that Kardashian and others before her (like Jessica Simpson) have created were done so with chess master-esque precision by their astute, albeit opportunistic, parent-managers which is more than can be said for Lochte’s mom (whose offspring, besides Ryan, include this idiotic racist).

Moreover, Lochte’s reality show predecessors understood the brand they were selling – they knew how they came off and laughed along with those laughing at them all the way to the bank. Being a calculated idiot (a sex tape with Ray J and “chicken of the sea,” anyone?) has proven to be much more lucrative than just a regular idiot (a la “The Jersey Shore” cast) which is why the now multi-million dollar industries of Kardashian and Simpson continue to thrive well past their fifteen-minute expiration.

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe we are the pawns. Maybe Ryan Lochte is an incredible genius who has us all fooled. I have my doubts, but I guess only time will tell.

In the meantime, I’ll leave you with this and this and the clip below and I encourage you to at least sit through a few minutes of the swimming wunderkind’s show.

Oh, and GO DAWGS!!

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May 15 2012
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Juan-Les-Pins, UGA Students, University of Georgia

2012 Cannes Film Festival "Welcome Dinner" for Students

In most other years of our program’s existence we have hosted the kickoff “Welcome Dinner” on the rooftop and adjoining solarium of our Residence.  However, after 3+ years on the French real estate market, the rooftop solarium has been sold to a private owner and is now being transformed into a penthouse suite.  Thus, we were forced to venture out to an alternate venue this year.  Luckily, our France-based coordinator, Namita, was able to strike a deal with one of the local bocce ball private clubs that I’ve mentioned in years past here on this blog.  (*It should be noted that ‘Bocce’ is what this game is referred to by Italians – and most Americans I know – but in France the game is called ‘Petanque’.) Finally, my longing to be inside one of these exclusive boy clubs (and by “boy” I mean “old man”) would become reality. 
Although there was no ‘petanque’ playing during our time within the club’s walls, the Club President and his wife – two hilariously adorable Italian expats – offered a free one-time lesson to our students OR, for 5 euros, our students can come play at their club on any Monday, Wednesday, or Friday afternoon throughout our month in Juan Les Pins.  They even suggested that for our “Closing Dinner” we come back and grill out on the club’s barbecue grill and simultaneously host an inter-program Petanque Competition as entertainment.  Apparently they would even try to call the Cote d’Azur publication, Nice Matin, to come photograph and report on our American student Petanque tournament that would run in the famous newspaper.  Too funny!
Our students enjoying one another’s company and the cuisine.

After only 2 days of the program, I’ve taught them so well already. Ziploc Baggies to take leftovers back to their apartments!!

The President of the Petanque Club’s wife explaining the “Fannie.” Anytime a petanque team loses to their opponent 13-0 they must kiss this statuette’s fannie as a form of public humiliation after the Club President rings a bell to alert everyone’s attention to it.

“Fannie”

The 2012 group along with Mr. and Mrs. Le President featured in front.

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May 14 2011
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Cannes Film Festival, Celebrities, Guest Speakers, UGA Students, University of Georgia

Tilda Swinton

After hearing Jonathan Caouette speak to us at a hotel up by the Cannes Train Station we speed-walked down to the beach to get in our seats at the UK Pavilion to hear Tilda Swinton generously speak one-on-one with our group.
Here, the students are awaiting the arrival of Tilda. I know the background behind them is fairly white washed, but if I had adjusted the lighting on my camera correctly you would see the bright blue water of the Mediterranean underneath the bright white glow of huge yachts. Not a bad view.
Tilda was wonderful. Having just spoken to a crowd at Ebertfest in April with Roger and Nate (our professor/program director) we were able to somehow occupy a bit of her heavily sought-after time during the chaos of Cannes. She was open, lovely, honest, and insightful. Such an honor and a joy to have her speak to our group of budding film and journalism students.

She cited her two children serving as constant inspirations throughout her talk with us – especially when it comes to film. Not just acting in film, but appreciating film. Tilda described her home absent of television and video games, so when her children are exposed to movies, be it in a local Scottish theatre or simply watching Hitchcock classics in their home, she absolutely admires and is inspired by the way the children let the films wash over them and are absorbed into their young, honest psyches.
Tilda sipped on tea at first because her voice was wearing out from all of the interviews and panels she had participated in prior to speaking to us. Despite tirelessly fulfilling her duties as a lead actress in one of the most talked about films in competition, Tilda’s mood and intention with us was nothing but uplifting and informative. She is a true professional. And her humility was surprising. When describing how she became involved in “We Need To Talk About Kevin” she recalled how she was dumbfounded that Lynne Ramsay and John C. Reilly even knew who she was. She seems to forget she’s an Oscar-winning actress who is arguably one of the best of our time. I guess leading a secluded, normal life on the coast of Scotland could do that to a person. In her town she says she’s “just her kids’ mom” and at the vet she’s “just her dogs’ mom.”
Shockingly, too, was her humor. At one point a nearby helicopter loudly started up and she childishly/mockingly stuck her pointer fingers in her ears and made a face. Smiling, she angrily demanded (in a pretending manner, of course), “Who is that [in the helicopter]?!” It made me daydream and imagine her marching over to the helicopter, knocking on its door, and telling its mystery passengers to quiet down so she could continue speaking to our group of university students in peace. She has the perfect combination of celebrity prowess and innate down-to-earth nature to be able to pull something like that off effectively.
I love this last shot shown below. This is Tilda’s immediate reaction to our student, Donté Slocum’s, question: “How have you grown as a person since you first started acting?” She pensively processed how to respond as the question really took her aback.
All in all, the concise, yet full thirty minutes we spent with Tilda on the patio of the UK Pavilion were so appreciated and sincere. She really took her time with our group. My perceptions of her before this talk and after could not be more different. She is such a normal, amazingly talented woman.
The day after she spoke to us Nate received an email from her apologizing for “rushing out of there.” This completely unnecessary apology couldn’t describe her character more. Genuine, kind, and classy. What an experience!

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May 12 2011
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Cannes, University of Georgia

It’s a bird… It’s a plane…

It’s a Blake Mitchell spotting in Cannes!!


Oh, wait. No. That’s just Jenn with her new haircut.

🙂
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May 11 2011
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Cannes Film Festival, Movie Reviews, UGA Students, University of Georgia

Students’ Blogs

As the Festival is now underway, I and our 26 students are running around like crazy people all day every day in Cannes seeing films, hearing speakers, (scheduling speakers – me), etc. Apologies for my sporadic presence in the blogosphere. Hopefully the below links of some of our students’ blogs will help fill in the gaps…

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***UPDATE — More of the students’ blogs added below…

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Aaaaaand even more blogs…


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And they keep rolling in…
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